Tuesday, March 7, 2017

What happens on the web stays on the web -- or not

The New York Times reports here on the use of social media to circulate compromising photos among an online group of U.S. Marines. Thousands of current and former Marines were members of this men-only by-invitation Facebook group, pointing once again to the challenges posed for official military personnel policies by contemporary social media. The matter is under investigation. As the Times points out, the Corps has the lowest percentage of women in its ranks and the highest rate of sexual assault reports. Watch for a hard look at Marine values as a result of the inquiry and recent recruit mistreatment cases. The leadership -- Secretary of Defense James Mattis is a retired Marine general -- will presumably be circumspect for the moment, although he and the current Commandant may feel impelled to comment.